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Apply More than 200 student ring boxes were placed inside the jaguar enclosure.
SAN ANTONIO —Texas A&M University-San Antonio hosted a special event at San Antonio Zoo to celebrate the accomplishments of students receiving their University Rings this fall. Guests included University faculty, staff, and students, including University President Salvador Hector Ochoa. B'alam the Jaguar, one of the zoo's most popular residents, also made a special guest appearance.
As part of A&M-San Antonio's partnership with the zoo, Zoo Ring Day was launched in the fall of 2022 as a fun and educational way to celebrate students. The event stems from the on-campus Ring Day, during which students, surrounded by loved ones, ceremoniously receive their rings.
Before this takes place, students' ring boxes are placed in a chest handcrafted by students from South San High School’s Practicum of Construction Management. This chest, which highlights A&M-San Antonio’s commitment to supporting South Bexar County schools, districts, and families, is placed inside the jaguar enclosure, where B'alam poses for photos while watching over the ring boxes.
“This tradition is a powerful moment for our students, symbolizing years of hard work, perseverance, and dedication," said Ochoa. "We are thrilled to share this achievement with San Antonio Zoo and B'alam, bringing our jaguar spirit to life and reminding our students of the adventure that lies ahead as they continue to lead and inspire.”
More than 200 ring boxes were placed within the University Ring Chest, set prominently in B'alam’s jaguar habitat, situated in San Antonio Zoo's NEOTROPICA realm under the Pantera Walk—sponsored by A&M-San Antonio.
Christina Burges is a Manager of Mammals at San Antonio Zoo Burges, overseeing thousands of animals for two decades, explained that B'alam, who turns 12 on Nov. 13, arrived at the San Antonio Zoo from a facility in Arizona seven years ago. B'alam was paired up with another jaguar, and the couple had two cubs in 2016. "He's a sweetheart," Burges said of B'alam, adding that the 141-pound jaguar sleeps about 18 hours a day and eats roughly 30 pounds of meat weekly.
"We are so proud to partner with Texas A&M University-San Antonio in celebrating the achievements of these remarkable students, who are our future leaders and conservationists. At San Antonio Zoo, education and conservation are at the heart of everything we do, and this partnership through the majestic presence of B'alam the Jaguar beautifully underscores our shared vision. Together, we illuminate a success story that spans from the wild to the workforce, where the jaguar not only symbolizes a thriving future for wildlife but also embodies the spirit and potential of A&M-San Antonio students as they embark on their professional journey," said Hope Roth, San Antonio Zoo's vice president of marketing.
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About Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Established as a stand-alone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in South San Antonio, the University offers 39 undergraduate degrees and 23 graduate degrees to about 8,040 students. A&M-San Antonio is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders, the Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center, and the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement. The University holds the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation and has received the Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education for its support of Latino student success. Approximately 65 percent of A&M-SA students identify as Hispanic, and about 70 percent are the first in their families to attend college. A&M-San Antonio is a military-embracing institution; the University was awarded the 2023 Gold Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award (VEERA) from the Texas Veterans Commission. Visit tamusa.edu for more information. #onamission